Nurses receive awards for long service |23 August 2014

A group of 11 nurses were rewarded for their long service in the nursing profession in a ceremony held at the Seychelles Institute of Teacher‘s Education auditorium Mont Fleuri yesterday.

The ceremony, organised by the Nurses Association of Seychelles (Nars) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, started with a symbolic gesture of the lighting of the lamp.

Present at the ceremony were Vice-President Danny Faure; Minister for Health Mitcy Larue; Nars patron Macsuzy Mondon, who is also the Minister for Education; leader of the opposition in the National Assembly David Pierre; principal secretary for Health Peggy Vidot; Nars chairperson Elsia Vidot; health officers; representative from Airtel; awardees and their families and friends.

Among the 11 nurses honoured is Yvette Sinon, who has been working as a nurse with the Ministry of Health for 43 years. She is currently working as a trained family planning nurse at the English River health centre.

The ten other nurses who were awarded for their long service are Anne Desire, Asselmine Cafrine, Christianne Belle, Georgianna Didon, Lusie Estico, Maria Louise, Michelette Morel, Patricia Bristol, Rose Jeremie and Venise Nourrice.

“It has been said that nursing is not for everyone, it takes a very strong, intelligent and passionate person to take the ills of the world with passion, purpose and work to maintain the health and well-being of the planet. I believe this is very true, as it is this that I witness everyday in the health system of our country,” Minister Larue said while addressing the long serving nurses.

“Nurses are ceaselessly acknowledged, as the largest group of health professionals with the greatest responsibility to improve the health of the population,” she added.

She took the opportunity to call on all nurses and health professionals who have left the service to consider coming back “as your contributions will help to strengthen the health system and help improve the care of our nation”.  Congratulating her fellow nurses, Mrs Vidot said: “This ceremony shows that the Ministry of Health has successfully retained its employees and sustain its nursing working force.”

During the ceremony the guests had the chance to listen to a poem ‘My Duty’ written by Dawn Butler, a registered nurse from Pennsylvania and listen to songs entitled ‘Blessed be the hands that care’ composed and sung by nurse Wendy Dorby and  Ners, composed by Jean-Marc Volcy and sung by the health choir.

Speaking to Seychelles Nation Miss Sinon said: “The 43 years was not an easy task. There were many persecutions as in any profession. But from God’s strength and guidance I overcame all odds and persevered to be where I am today.”